Bear Ridge Speedway’s DIRTcar exclusive division the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes showing record numbers for our 50th year of racing season 2017
For Immediate Release BRS-041717-1
The Bear Ridge Speedway car count for its exclusive division the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes is approaching numbers from days gone by, with an anticipated twenty three to twenty five of the classic machines expected to be hitting the track that they have called their only home for fifty years.
Through the history of the Ridge this division has evolved only slightly from what it was when these machines hit the track for the first time fifty years ago. Still featuring leaf spring suspensions in the rear and the bodies of 1932 to 1948 coupes, when these beauties hit the premier quarter mile clay oval it is like looking back thru time to a simpler day gone by.
Looking for a place for the coupes to continue to run and call home, as times were a changing fifty years ago and the coupes were being replaced with modified coupes and overhead motors George Barber built them that home, Bear Ridge Speedway, which is where the coupes have continued to race ever since.
The first season of racing (1968) saw Ford flat head V-8’s, Chrysler and Hudson 6-cylinder flat heads and the rare Pontiac flat head straight eight. The Coupes became a major draw week after week, with fans sitting everywhere on the natural bank seating area. This style of Coupe racing remained the mainstay at the Ridge until 1976 when the rules were opened to allow “straight – inline 6-cylinder” engines. This initial change saw the division becoming the Modified Coupes which remained until 1982. During the winter of 1982/1983, the division was divided into Modified 6-Cylinder Coupe and a Sportsman Coupe. That Sportsman Coupe is pretty much what you see today when you make the trip up to the Ridge on a summer time Saturday night.
During the Ridge’s second and third decades two men were at the top for a record sixteen championships between the them. In the 70’s and 80’s if your last name didn’t start with an “E” then you might as well plan on not being the champ as Brother Eastman claimed nine championships and CV Elms grabbed seven. In those early days, you also watched the names of Pierson, Shepard, Harrington, Chaffee, and Williams, to name but a few, some of whom would also have their moment of fame after the Eastman/Elms dominance. Today you will be watching the names of Pierson, Shepard, Harrington, Chaffee, and Williams as these sons and grandsons of our past heroes, and even a couple of the old-time heroes themselves will be competing in their favorite old time division the Sportsman Coupes and or the Sportsman Modifieds.
Mark your calendar for May 6th for the annual car show at the between NAPA of Bradford FMS Auto parts and the Bradford Jiffy Mart followed by a test and tune session, then it is the 50th consecutive opening night, this year sponsored by NAPA of Bradford F.M.S. Autoparts LLC for the 99ROCK WFRD weekly racing series at the Ridge with all five divisions set to begin the battle for the championship with double points on the line.
Bear Ridge continues to have a comfortable but exciting atmosphere that sends guests back to days gone by while offering modern-day conveniences. With good food (including fresh-cut French fries and real hamburg burgers) that’s inexpensively priced and competitors who drive hard, Bear Ridge has been called a New England gem.
The 2017 Bear Ridge Speedway 99ROCK WFRD weekly racing series will consist of the DIRTcar sanctioned Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds, Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes, USAC DMA Laquerre Sport’s Midgets, CA Miller Inc Limited Late Models, and the Weglarz Property Service Four Cylinders.
Season passes are available for general admission, Adults is $180.00, Seniors and Teens $150.00. 2017 membership and car owner applications are available on line or by calling 603/222-4052.
Bear Ridge Speedway is as an alcohol free family friendly entertainment spot, with our goal to make each experience at the Ridge better than the last. Remember “Dirt where every lap is the last lap” we continue to offer the best source of good inexpensive high quality entertainment for families.
Bear Ridge Speedway is located off exit 16 of I91 on to rte 25 west 1 mile to South Road up the hill to Kidder Rd. The green will wave every Saturday starting May 6th at 6:00 pm(ish). Be sure to check the web www.bearridgespeedway.com Questions can be sent to brsdirt@charter.net
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Contact: April May Preston Email: brsdirt@charter.net
Phone: (802) 222-4052
